The Impact of Link Placement on YouTube Channel Success 

Building a successful YouTube channel is no small feat. With over two billion monthly logged-in users visiting this platform, standing out requires creativity. It also requires quality content and strategic optimization. But, when trying to expand reach and viewers, one area is often overlooked. That’s link placement. Where you place links to drive traffic within YouTube is important. It’s also important where you place them from external websites.   

Optimizing your use of links can have a significant influence on your discoverability. As a result, it impacts your channel’s growth. This article will explore the most impactful ways you can use links to elevate your channel.  

Driving viewership through video descriptions

One highly valuable area for link placement is in your video descriptions. Viewers see titles and thumbnails front and center. However, they often overlook the description box underneath, missing an opportunity. A huge one. Descriptions allow you to provide context, keywords, and links to more of your content. 

One excellent example of a channel that drives viewership through video descriptions is Linus Tech Tips. If you’ll look into the YouTube link profile of Linus Tech Tips, you’ll see how well they executed this approach. 

You can describe the video to pique interest. Then, link to related videos, playlists, websites, and social media profiles. This taps YouTube’s recommendation algorithms. It nurtures an ecosystem where each video supports the others. This keeps viewers engaged rather than losing them.   

However, you should be on the lookout for broken links, as placing them in your video descriptions may undermine viewership success. Therefore, it’s best to use a broken link finder for YouTube to ensure your best content remains easily accessible.

You can also link to your YouTube homepage, Facebook page, and Instagram profile. This makes it easy for interested viewers to follow you across platforms. More entry points to connect with you and see your updates equals faster following and authority over time. Bringing fans back consistently can result in higher view counts and watch time. It also increases influence.

Driving subscribers through on-video CTA

Some of the highest-performing channels drive subscriptions by mentioning their channel URL. They also include a link in the video. For example, an on-camera host may wrap up by saying the following:  

‘If you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe. Visit YouTube.com/MyAwesomeChannel to unlock our latest premium 3D printing models. I’ll see you in the next design tutorial!’ This goes along with a visual of the channel name on the screen.   

Explicitly calling out the desired action helps overcome passive spectating. Viewers simply consume without taking the next steps to connect or follow regularly. YouTube stats heavily favor channels that successfully convert one-time visitors into ongoing subscribers. This handholding pays dividends.  

Just be careful. Excessive self-promotion can make videos feel ‘salesy’ and undermine your authenticity if overdone. Find a balance between high-impact and natural channel mentions. Align them with the content tone.  

Cards and end screens expand clicks

Newer YouTube features, like interactive cards and end screens, offer more flexibility. They allow creators to insert clickable in-video links. Cards enable you to overlay prompts during precise moments in your videos. Viewers can tap to quickly access other videos, playlists, channels, or external sites. It won’t interrupt playback.

For example, a card halfway through a makeup tutorial could link to all the products used. Another card near the end could let them loop back to the beginning. Cards get the most clicks early, around the one-to-two-minute mark.   

End screens automatically surface relevant watch next recommendations in the last 20 seconds. Video content forms the basis of the recommendations. They tap into viewers’ tendency for passive continued watching, like Netflix. 

End screens appear only for viewers who’ve already watched most of the video. They fuel session time by feeding your most loyal fans highly related content. They do this as the credits roll. Their customizability and automation increase clicks substantially.  

Pinned comments keep viewers exploring more

Pinned YouTube comments are a great way to direct traffic across videos in your channel. You pin your own comments containing links to the top. They get many more impressions and clicks than standard comments. Leverage this by linking to your top three to five videos or most related content. The familiar comment format feels natural for recommendations versus descriptions. 

For example, pin a comment on a piano lesson video: ‘If you enjoyed this, check out my lessons on composers here: Beethoven, Mozart…’ This spreads viewers across more videos over time. It expands exposure dramatically instead of losing them after one view. Pinned comments persist forever, so links continue benefiting you as your portfolio grows.  

Leveraging annotations for earlier link placement

Before interactive cards transformed YouTube, annotations existed for over a decade. They served the same function as the now-famous YouTube cards. Annotations enabled clickable overlays. They allowed creators to place help elements anywhere in the video. These could include boxes, text bubbles, spotlights, and more. This helped direct viewers to other destinations.   

For example, a large arrow could annotate key points of interest in a tour video. Speech bubbles may embed links to referenced research papers and materials. Annotations appeared upon mouse-over on the desktop, so they didn’t obstruct mobile viewing.   

Creators used annotations to link out as early as the first few seconds of a video. They didn’t wait until card options opened up. However, overuse created clutter, which impacted viewership.

YouTube is now phasing out annotations. But they demonstrated viewers’ hunger for in-video links and interactivity, paving the way.  

Driving external traffic through cross-promotion

The bulk of link placement focuses on driving internal YouTube viewership. You can further amplify authority by securing links back to your videos. You can find these links from relevant high-traffic websites.

Identify websites that cater to your target niche. Then, reach out to them to learn their editorial and guest posting policies. The goal is to get your YouTube channel or specific standout videos featured naturally in their content.

This could apply to photography channels. You may have your ‘Top 5 Tips for Night Sky Photography” video embedded in an online magazine article, which could be on astrophotography basics. Fitness influencers may get a backlink in a roundup of the ‘Best 10-Minute Home Workouts’ that points to their intense HIIT routines. Magazine makers can leverage these strategies to enhance their content and provide valuable resources to their audience.

Cross-promotion expands your visibility beyond just YouTube algorithms. It reaches new audiences from secondary sources. They’re already passionate about your specialty. Cross-promotion primes them to head straight to your portfolio. It also signals to YouTube that external authorities find your content valuable. This unlocks preferences in their recommendation engine.   

The combined effect is a powerful credibility boost. It lifts your channel visibility everywhere. However, it requires identifying mutually beneficial partnerships through outreach. That’s a better approach than just paying for inorganic promotions of questionable quality. 

In closing

Strategic link placement creates the backbone for a successful YouTube channel. It encourages fluid viewership within your video portfolio. It also encourages inbound traffic from authoritative external sites. Following the approaches mentioned above maximizes content discovery and cross-pollination. This leads to higher authority, credibility, and exponential influence over time.